The Notre Dame 2026 recruiting class is nearly complete, and it’s arguably already an elite group for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish staff. That includes a secondary class, which has a chance to be the top in the entire country. The group that Mike Mickens has put together is extraordinary. 

Everyone loves player comparisons, right? It’s a fun conversation to truly understand play styles, body types, and sometimes upside. Let’s talk about my favorite player comps for that elite secondary class. 

Joey O'Brien – Glenside (Pa.) La Salle College

player comp: Grant Delpit (Cleveland Browns)

You don’t often see players who could legitimately play cornerback, safety, or wide receiver on the college level. At around 6-3 and 190 pounds, that’s exactly what O’Brien brings to the table. He is an outstanding athlete, who also possesses tremendous length, and playmaking ability. My personal preference is that O’Brien ends up as a safety, utilizing his versatility and range to do a lot of different things for a defense. 

Delpit has been a good player for the Browns, but people should go reminisce about his impact while he was with LSU. The Tigers asked Delpit to do a lot of different things for the team. He was a bit of a moveable chess piece for the team. His impact was felt everywhere. 

Khary Adams – Towson (Md.) Loyola Blakefield

player comp: AJ Terrell (Atlanta Falcons)

If you love length, speed, ball skills, and playmaking ability, then you are going to love Adams. He is one of the more physically gifted cover men in the entire 2026 recruiting class. Adams is, quite possibly, the most athletically gifted cornerback that Mike Mickens will work with at Notre Dame. Yes, that includes Leonard Moore, who is also an elite talent. 

Chaston Smith – Chattanooga (Tenn.) Knoxville Catholic

player comp: Charvarius Ward (Indianapolis Colts)

Like Ward, Smith is a length cornerback who should be right around 200 pounds by the end of his college career. Smith missed a lot of time as a junior, so some people forget how talented he is. With length, plus speed, and ball skills, there is a lot to like as a boundary cornerback with plus starter upside. Stop underrating Smith. 

Ayden Pouncey – Winter Garden (Fla.) High School

player comp: Cam Hart (Los Angeles Chargers)

Pouncey could conceivably play outside at cornerback, or even safety long term on the next level. He’s a surprisingly nimble athlete for a player listed around 6-3. While Pouncey needs to add good weight to his frame, he plays a surprisingly physical brand of football. That’s what made Hart such a fan favorite for Notre Dame fans during his career. 

Nick Reddish – Charlotte (N.C.) Independence

player comp: Taron Johnson (Buffalo Bills)

Due to the junior year injury, Reddish has become an extremely underrated player in the Notre Dame class. At 5-11 and 185 pounds, he has a unique skill set to that can be used in a variety of different ways. While he’s a safety by label, Reddish has the short area quickness and man upside to also play inside at the nickel. That’s similar to how Johnson is utilized by the Bills, a versatile player on the back end. 

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